
What are "tire performance characteristics"?

To ensure effectiveness, tires need to deliver numerous, often conflicting, performance characteristics. Improving one of these performances must not be to the detriment of the others.
PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTIC I SHOULD THINK ABOUT:
How do I choose between versions of a tire line?
Each of our tire lines is made in a selection of sizes to fit appropriate vehicles. Sometimes a tire line will have several versions of the same tire size but with different technical specifications such as speed ratings (ex: S, T, H, V, W, Y, etc.), load index (ex: 91, 94, XL, etc.), or OE markings (designating that a version was specifically designed for a vehicle manufacturer, ex: Star = BMW or Mini, MO = Mercedes, etc). These technical specifications are important details that can determine whether or not that version is compatible with your vehicle and the way you drive.

If several versions are compatible with your vehicle, we recommend that you choose the version with the same specifications as your original equipment tires.
You can also safely select a version with higher speed rating or load index; however, higher speed or load capability can negatively impact tread life and ride comfort.